Thai Marines Demonstrate the Performance of the R600 8x8 Amphibious Armored Vehicle

03 Juni 2023

RTMC has demonstrated the performance of its two domestic R600 8x8 Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier developed by Panus Assembly Co.,Ltd. at Phlu Ta Luang Subdistrict, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province on 26 May 2023 (all photos : Royal Thai Marine Corps)

On May 26, 2023, Rear Admiral Saroj Boonthap, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Marine Corps Command, representative of the Commander-in-Chief of the Marine Corps Command, along with Rear Admiral Uthai Youngvilai, Chief of Staff of the Marine Corps Command senior officer Administration Department and unit commander participate in the performance test of the armored vehicle (8x8) type of personnel carrier, branded PANUS model R 600, 18-seat type from Panus Assembly Co., Ltd. at Haad Khlod, Amphibious Vehicle Battalion, Marine Corps Command, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province.

Marine Assault Amphibian Vehicle Battalion, Thai Marine Corps (RTMC) Royal Thai Navy has demonstrated the performance testing of 2 Panus R600 8x8 amphibious armored personnel carriers at Haad Khlod, Amphibious Vehicle Battalion, Marine Corps Headquarters, Phlu Ta Luang Subdistrict, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province

A series of images of the R600 8x8 Amphibious Vehicle Status Test Demonstration Image published on the Royal Thai Marine Corps official Facebook page shows several tests including road driving within an Amphibious Vehicle Battalion location. On-site demonstration of movement in water in a reservoir and movement up and down in the open sea from Hat Khlod which the AAV7A1 amphibious vehicle and the VN16 amphibious assault vehicle are in service with Amphibious Vehicle Battalion Marines have undergone this kind of testing and training.

Panus Assembly Co., Ltd. (Panus Assembly Co., Ltd.) Thailand has delivered the R600 8x8 amphibious armored personnel carrier that he developed with 2 cars for the Thai Marine Corps on 9 May 2023.

Panus Assembly Company Thailand was the winner of the project for the purchase of 2 armored vehicles (8x8) type, troop transport type, by selection method, amount 99,900,000 baht ($ 3,080,387), price per unit each. 49,950,000 baht ($ 1,540,240) announced on September 20, 2021.

R600 8x8 wheeled armored vehicle of the Thai Marine Corps it has a vehicle weight of 18tons, is equipped with a 600HP Cummins diesel engine in the US and an Automatic Transmission Gear 6-Speed ​​Allison 4500 in the US. The maximum speed on the road is 110km/h while moving in the water up to 13.7km/h. The operating range is 800km across the engine. Obstacle height 0.6m, slope 40%, slope 60%, 2 crew members (commander/gunner and driver) can carry up to 18 soldiers with the vehicle. Weapons are expected to be equipped with guns a  remote .50cal M2 heavy machine such as the Turkish ASELSAN SARP or a manual launcher.

The Royal Thai Navy also needs to supply 8X8 armored personnel carriers for the Thai Marine Corps with 7 wheel vehicles limit 448 million baht ($ 13,272,699), with a total demand of 21 cars, all of which will be the supply of cars manufactured in Thailand.

The Panus R600 8x8 wheeled armored vehicle, It is expected to compete with the 8X8 wheeled armored vehicle Sea Tiger AAPC of the National Defense Technology Institute DTI (Defence Technology Institute) delivered to the Thai Marine Corps on 18 May 2023.

(AAG)